Bipartisan Federal Bill Introduced to Seal Marijuana Charges After One Year

Legislation that would seal the records for marijuana charges one year after the sentence is completed has been filed in the U.S. Congress.

The Clean Slate Act (HR 6669) was introduced by Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D) and Rod Blum (R) along with 20 additional cosponsors. The measure would allow marijuana-related charges to be sealed from an individual’s criminal record a year after the conviction is complete. This would mean that the charge/s wouldn’t appear when an employer, landlord or college does a criminal background check.

“Individuals saddled with a marijuana possession conviction are disproportionately either people of color or at the lowest rungs of the economic ladder, and it is essential that they are not held back from being able to obtain employment, housing, access to higher education, and all of the other necessities of being an active participant in their community”, says Justin Strekal, NORML’s Political Director. “Having been arrested for mere marijuana possession does not make one a bad person, but rather a victim of a cruel public policy.”

You can click here to send a message to your member of Congress asking them to support the Clean Slate Act.